Amelioration of detrimental effects of waterlogging by foliar nutrient sprays in barley

Six barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars contrasting in their waterlogging tolerance were subjected to waterlogging for 2 weeks under glasshouse conditions. The adverse effects of waterlogging were significantly alleviated by the foliar spray of nutrients (quarter- or full-strength Hoagland solution) in all cultivars. Beneficial effects of nutrient sprays included improved shoot and root growth and reduced leaf senescence. Chlorophyll content was increased, as was net CO2 assimilation, photochemical efficiency of PSII, and adventitious root production compared with waterlogged plants with no added foliar nutrients. Auxin was found accumulated at the shoot base in waterlogged plants, and the spray of foliar nutrients significantly increased this accumulation in waterlogged plants after 14 days of treatment. Foliar application of 1-NAA also promoted the production of adventitious roots. The highest concentration of auxin was measured in the stem region between 1.2 and 1.6 cm above the shoot–root junction. Foliar nutrient application also improved nitrogen and potassium content in both shoot and root, but calcium content was hardly affected. It is concluded that the improvement of waterlogged plant growth by foliar nutrient sprays could be related to both the improved plant nutrition and increased auxin accumulation in the shoot base, responsible for development of adventitious roots